The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-09-23

lection against loss of life in this work
he felt had been reasonably good. Took
particular notice in forenoon at this par
ticular place of ground and would like
to have seen 1t little more Sc
cure. 1t was suggested to Malone
that more safety be provided
but Malone said it was all right.
About one-half hour before the accident
witness asked Malone if it would not be
best to supply additional braces and he
replied, "No; will be out of here in a
few minutes, then let it cave" Barlow
said same. Witness remarked, eff you
can stand it can, but will keep
watch" Witness feared the ground
more 10 or Is feet further south Than he
did where the slide occurred. Is first
time / ever saw so much dirt fall at one
time here. In my opinion l do not
think that more plank need have been
placed at lower portion of ditch, but
rather would suggest more cross pieces.
In this instance had more cross pieces
been put in 1t would have given more
time for escape. Contractors business
to see that the bracing was properly
made. A man we'll acquainted with this
braces. The man Malone had no par
ticular right to refuse more braces, but a
man in his position gets careless to dang
err. All bracing is done before pipe
layer reaches the point and it is usually
left with the pipe man to determine
whether or not the bracing is sufficient.
Mr.. Lilly having completed his testi-
mOny, the coroner adjourned further
proceedings until after noon.
Mr.. LILLY was recalled, and asked
when the excavation was made where
the accident occurred, answering that
the first five feet was completed yester-
day morning, and the balance was dug
Saturday and Monday. Witness consid-
cred that ditch dug at depth of IA or
10 feet and left open for several days
would be mole liable to give way near
bottom than if closed up sooner. Thought
the ditch between Walnut and Hickory
street, having been open so long is now
more dangerous than it would have been
had it been filed up sooner. The rea-
son this block has not been filed before
is because of striking the old Walnut
street sewer, which had to be relieved OF
the water rushing in before proceeding
further. Thought the contractors had
used all due diligence in executing this
work, which is now nearly completed.
The cave-ln which occurred in front OF
Frink d Richards store caved from the
top instead of bottom, and the banks in
both instances were braced about same.
No street car had passed by the ditch at
this particular point for five or ten min
utes.
w. B. DAVIES, city recorder, was call
ed and testified as to the contract be-
tween Williams & Hanlon, sewer con-
tractors, and the city.
DR.. n. ID. SATTERLEE testified that he
this morning examined the dead bodies
OF the two unfortunates. Found no
marks on Malone. He died from as
phyxla or suffocation. Examined body
of Barlow also, and pronounced his
death from same cause. Thought death
would ensue within ten or fifteen min
utes from time they were covered.
+. G. WICKERsHAM, plumber and gas
filter, was called. He has worked in
and had charge of numerous excavations
in the past six years. He had not no.
ticed particularly the manner of braclng
the banks. Eight feet was the deepest
he had ever excavated in the locality
Witness thought that where cross ditch
es had been built, the bracing supplied
by the contractors was hardly sufficient
Thought that bitches s feet deep on
Front street needed no bracing.
Il. +. BROWN, plumber and gas filter,
testified about the same as Mr.. Wicker
sham.
EDWARD GREENBUsH.-Am q laborer:
was present at the accident in the ditch,
and was about twelve feet from the cave.
In; Malone and Lilly were also in the
ditch when the dirt caved in; Malone
was buried completely, and Lilly was
buried up to his knees in the first fall
which was fall of sand; Malone was
wor king on the sewer pipe; the length
OF the first earth that fell was about foul
or five feet; Lilly got shovel and began
to dig, and called for the others; Barlow
was caught in the second fall and cover.
ed TO his chest; others tried to pull Bar.
low out with a windlass when the third
cavern occurred and covered Barlow
over his head; was there when they
were taken out; Barlow was the first tC
be taken out, and it was about an hour
and half after the accident; he was
dead when taken out; the other mar
was gotten out about two hours later
the second cave-In was about four fee
long by two or three feet broad.
j. II HEATER.-Am a laborer anC
| cooper; Was working about 100 feet NORTH
Of the cavern at the time of the accident
have been working on the sewer fol
about six weeks, and do the bracing; die
not See the first fall but heard it, anC
saw the second fall had put in planks Al
this place; bracing was of plank twelve
feet long, 2xl0 in. or 2x12 in. elm, partly
dry; four of these Parks were on each
| side, the first three feet from the surface
of the ground, the second three feet from
the first, the third about the same dis.
lance from the second, and the last JUS
below the third; the planks were placed
lengthwise with the sewer, and were
supported by braces of the same mater
ial, cut the right length and driven in
straight across from plank to plank
edge of braces faced up; braces from
four to seven feet apart usually; about
six feet apart at this place; at that place
there was bad looking piece of sand
and put in extra planks, making add
tional protection; thought this was nee
essary to keep the sand and gravel from
| slipping out; sand was about four fee
from bottom of ditch, and was merely
little pocket; additional planks were pu
in on account of the cross ditch; there
was an extra plank over the water pipe
about six feet from the bottom; one adj
ditional brace to each plank was put in
asked Malone if l hadn't better put
another plank in at the bottom, and he
said there was no need of it as he could
get along better without it; this wal
loh mil 1fn hAE